Gavin Newlands, SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has welcomed the First Minister’s move to exempt care leavers from paying council tax.

During the First Minister’s Key Note Address at the SNP conference held in Glasgow the First Minister announced that the Scottish Government will exempt care leavers from paying council tax.

This is part of the wider review that the Scottish Government is conducting into the care system.

Gavin Newland’s, SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said:

“I am delighted that the SNP Scottish Government will be exempting care leavers from paying council tax. The financial hardship facing youngsters leaving care is a serious problem, and this announcement from the First Minister will help to make life that bit easier for those young people.”

“This policy announcement has been welcomed by those working in the sector and I am sure this will prove to be a good decision in improving the experience for many care leavers in Scotland.”

“There is still a lot of work to be done to help improve the experience and life chances for those in care and this policy announcement from Nicola Surgeon will go a small way in helping to deliver that change for those youngsters living in care.”